was himself an eye-witness of the rapture of Europe, [Guibert de
Nogent] describes the personal appearance of the Hermit at this time.
He says, that there appeared to be something of divine in every thing
which he said or did. The people so highly reverenced him, that they
plucked hairs from the mane of his mule, that they might keep them as
relics. While preaching, he wore in general a woollen tunic, with a
dark-coloured mantle, which fell down to his heels. His arms and feet
were bare, and he ate neither flesh nor bread, supporting himself
chiefly upon fish and wine. "He set out," says the chronicler, "from
whence I know not; but we saw him passing through the towns and
villages, preaching every where, and the people surrounding him in
crowds, loading him with offerings, and celebrating his sanctity with
such great praises that I never remember to have seen such honours
bestowed upon any one." Thus he went on, untired, inflexible, and full
of devotion, communicating his own madness to his hearers, until
Europe was stirred from its very depths.

While the Hermit was appealing with such signal success to the
people, the Pope appealed with as much success to those who were to
become the chiefs and leaders of the expedition. His first step was to
call a council at Placentia, in the autumn of the year 1095. Here, in
the assembly of the clergy, the Pope debated the grand scheme, and
gave audience to emissaries who had been sent from Constantinople by
the Emperor of the East to detail the progress made by the Turks in
their design of establishing themselves in Europe. The clergy were of
course unanimous in support of the Crusade, and the council separated,
each individual member of it being empowered to preach it to his
people.

But Italy could not be expected to furnish all the aid required;